Back
Internship Technology

Software Engineer Intern (Summer 2025 – Chicago)

Chicago

As a Software Engineer Intern, you will work side-by-side with your mentor and teammates to build real-world applications. You will work on projects that further develop and optimize our systems and see contributions in real-time – testing and shipping your code to production. In our business, where the markets are always evolving, each day brings fresh challenges to solve.

What you’ll do:

Mentored by Optiver engineers, you will play a key role in advancing our world-class trading systems, working on projects that push the boundaries of performance and efficiency. You will:

  • Deep dive into trading fundamentals, from theoretical concepts to financial markets, strategies and cutting-edge technology.
  • Work closely with senior Engineers and Traders to develop, test, and ship your code to production.
  • Tackle complex, real-world problems to enhance your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Examples of potential projects:

  • Profiling and optimizing our software and systems
  • Developing real use-case applications
  • Building tools using vast data sets

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, where you’ll be surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem solvers. Driven by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, working collectively to tackle the toughest problems in the financial markets.

  • A highly-competitive internship compensation package
  • Optiver-covered flights, living accommodations and commuting stipends (where applicable)
  • Office perks, including daily breakfast and lunch, social events and clubs

Who you are:

  • A student working toward a degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering between December 2025 and June 2026
  • Passionate for clean code, simple, well-architected systems and continuous improvement
  • A proficiency in coding languages such as C++, Python, or Java
  • Strong engineering ability and a solid understanding of computer science fundamentals
  • Have an entrepreneurial attitude and an interest in the financial industry
  • An analytical mindset and strong problem-solving skills
  • Able to work closely with developers, traders and business operations

Who we are: 

Optiver’s mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and offering stability no matter the market conditions. We are focused on continuous improvement and prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 70+ exchanges across the globe.

Diversity statement

Optiver is committed to diversity and inclusion.

For answers to some of our most frequently asked questions, refer to our Campus FAQs.

*We accept one application per role per year. If you have previously applied to this position during this season and have been unsuccessful, you can reapply once the next recruitment season begins in 2025.

You are viewing: Apply now
Software Engineer Intern (Summer 2025 – Chicago)
Internship Technology Chicago
Careers

Related vacancies

  • Technology

    Modern Workplace Lead

    WHO WE ARE Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. For over 35 years, Optiver has been improving financial markets around the world, making them more transparent and efficient for all participants. With more than 1,600 employees in offices around the world, we’re united in our commitment to improve the market […]

    Learn more
    Amsterdam
  • Technology

    Modern Workplace Engineer

    WHO WE ARE Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. For over 35 years, Optiver has been improving financial markets around the world, making them more transparent and efficient for all participants. With more than 1,600 employees in offices around the world, we’re united in our commitment to improve the market […]

    Learn more
    Amsterdam
  • Technology

    Junior FPGA Engineer

    Hardware Engineers at Optiver build hardware-based trading systems ranging from low latency algorithms to high bandwidth computation. They are responsible for owning all aspects of the development process from ideation to implementation creating bespoke solutions to our complex trading problems. Their systems have little room for failure which add to the stability of the market, […]

    Learn more
    Chicago
  • Technology

    Machine Learning Performance Engineer

    Optiver is a seeking a Machine Learning Performance Engineer to join our team, focusing on a pivotal AI initiative. This role would offer the opportunity to have significant impact across Machine Learning infrastructure, training, and inference challenges to advance our futures trading strategies. Who we are: Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global […]

    Learn more
    Chicago
  • Technology

    Windows Infrastructure – Software Engineer

      Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. As one of the oldest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 50+ exchanges across the globe. Our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilising force no matter […]

    Learn more
    Amsterdam
  • Technology

    Junior FPGA Engineer

    Hardware Engineers at Optiver build hardware-based trading systems ranging from low latency algorithms to high bandwidth computation. They are responsible for owning all aspects of the development process from ideation to implementation creating bespoke solutions to our complex trading problems. Their systems have little room for failure which add to the stability of the market, […]

    Learn more
    Austin
  • Technology

    Machine Learning Research Engineer

    Optiver is a seeking a Machine Learning Research Engineer to join our team, focusing on a pivotal AI initiative. This role would offer the opportunity to have significant impact across Machine Learning infrastructure, training, and inference challenges to advance our futures trading strategies. Who we are: Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global […]

    Learn more
    Chicago
  • Technology

    Lead Windows Infrastructure Engineer

      Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. As one of the oldest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 50+ exchanges across the globe. Our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilising force no matter […]

    Learn more
    Amsterdam
  • Technology

    Data Centre Engineer

    WHO WE ARE Optiver is a global market maker with offices in Amsterdam, London, Chicago, Austin, Sydney, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei. Founded in 1986, today we are a leading liquidity provider, with close to 2,000 employees in offices around the world, united in our commitment to improve the market through competitive pricing, execution […]

    Learn more
    Shanghai
  • Technology

    Machine Learning Research Engineer

    Optiver is a seeking a Machine Learning Research Engineer to join our team, focusing on a pivotal AI initiative.  This role would offer the opportunity to have significant impact across Machine Learning infrastructure, training, and inference challenges to advance our futures trading strategies. Who we are: Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market […]

    Learn more